Immaculate Reception (23 page)

All of the characters in this work are fictional. And that is certainly true of the Jesuit Brothers created for this story. But I owe a great debt of inspiration, both baking and spiritual, to a unique man whom I met only briefly and his marvelous book of recipes.

One Christmas season, serendipity brought my six-year-old and me into our Mrs. Gooch Market on the day a young Jesuit Brother was demonstrating the art of breadmaking. As Brother Rick Curry, S.J., happily showed Sam how to knead dough, I discovered his marvelous book,
The Secrets of Jesuit Breadmaking
. This charming collection of recipes and traditions from Jesuit bakers around the world describes a centuries-old approach to baking that is, I hope, reflected in the attitudes found in this work of fiction. I am thankful this gentle master baker was placed in my path.

And of course, there are many others to whom I am deeply grateful. For their support and expert advice, my thanks go to Brandon Hoskins; Chef Alex Lombardo and Jill Martin of Cucina Paradiso in Redondo Beach and Soleil in Manhattan Beach; Joe Wick; Melody Blake of
The Washington Post
; Christine Lamont; Steve Wilson; George Moraga and Stephen Whitley; Diane Bouchard and the L.A. Chapter of Sisters in Crime; Robert and DeLores Klein; Mrs. Melody and Verdugo Valley School; Detective Sergeant Ron Insalaco; the fabulous Julie of The Julies; Rich
ard Klein; DorothyL; Erica Bailey Rudnick; Barbara Voron; and Linda Venis and the Writers Program at UCLA Extension. As always, I am delighted to have the warm counsel of Evan Marshall and the friendship of my excellent editor, the new Mrs. Jeff Lee, Lyssa Keusch. Finally, my love goes to the brilliant and feisty Sam & Nick; to their father, Chris, a man filled with goodness, wit, and titles; and to God, with thanks for one more year, month, day, minute, second…